January 18, 2004 – Racing in his first event in Navigators blue, McKenzie out-sprinted his breakaway partner (Simon Gerrans) to take the Bronze Medal in the Australian National Road Championship today in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. McKenzie came in 3:13 behind the solo winner Matt Wilson (FdJeux.Com) and 2:03 behind Robert Mclachlan (ACT). The 180-Km. race was contested under near perfect conditions, but the difficulty of the course took its toll. With about 50-Km remaining, two small groups of early breakaway riders were joined, and then attacked mercilessly by the big guns from the main field, looking for an early-season result.  Early break rider Mclachlan attacked and was joined by Wilson and several others. Entering the final circuit, the leaders were pared down to just Wilson and Mclachlan as McKenzie and Gerrans raced through the remnants in pursuit of the two in front.  Unfortunately, there was not enough real estate remaining, and the Wilson/Mclachlan duo was driving hard.  At the end, Wilson powered away to take the solo win, followed by Mclachlan, then McKenzie.